We have taken the 3 hours whale watching tour. It was a great day of October, not so sunny but not cold either.
The boat is big and comfortable. We were sailing toward west when one of the passengers saw something moving nearby. He/she told to the crew and we turned around.
For our great fortune it was a Minke whale, very difficult to spot. However the captain was driving the boat in circles and you lose the track of the whale swimming and the probable place to spot it in its next air inhalation. I have done at least 4 whale watching tours and in all of them the captain try to keep the boat parallel to the whales direction, even keeping distance to not disturb it behavior.
After a while the crew told us that we have problems with the engine, which it is not an issue compromising safety but just in case we would go back to the pier. Of course we sailed back at an slower speed. We arrived back to the pier after 2:10 hours. We were “compensated” with a “50% discount coupon” that we can use again for any activity that San Diego Whale Watching Offer.
That was my last day in San Diego, so I could not use the coupon. And honestly, who would go with them again in a boat with a broken engine??
Back in the port I asked in the office if we can get 1/3 refund instead of the 50% off coupon because we were in a 2-hours trip instead of a 3-hours trip, and also because we will not be in SD in the next days. The answer was that it is not possible to refund because when the boat leaves the pier the tour is considered done. So what happens if the engine breaks 200 meters from the pier? I also get the 50% off coupon?
I do not know how the rest of the companies offering Whale Watching work in SD, but I would not recommend this one. Bad customer service.